Ash POV

Will definitely knew something. I nibble on the skin of my thumb and hold my arms together tightly and snuggle into my jumper as I gaze around the room.

We were in maths. I guess you couldn't get out of it even if you live in a world of fantasy. Granted, I had already been taught this subject, my parents had been very focused on educating me properly.

Training was next, and since it took place in the massive gym, two year groups took it together. Us, and the year above. Will and Sam's year. They were in that year because they were older than us, obviously, but there was a few months between them and Naomi, Naomi being born in August, Sam and Will in June.

I, on the other hand, was born in March, meaning I was almost a year younger than Sam. I had only turned twelve two months ago. Was it two months? I had no idea anymore. I don't know how long I had been knocked out in that camp, if that's what you want to call it. That means it was their birthday in a month, probably. I think it was May now. Not quite sure. All the dates were in a different language. I can't be arsed asking for a translation.

Anyway, I was dreading training. Not just because of the actual training, but more because of who was joining us for training. Will just seems so uncomfortable around me, especially at breakfast this morning. I really hope he didn't see me last night. The constant avoiding of eye contact was definitely weirder than any socially awkward person I had ever known. He was worse than the people on Tumblr.

The bell chimed from the clock tower in the central courtyard and our textbooks disappeared off of our desks. Thank God there was no homework tonight. I had been startled the first time our books 'vanished', as it were. Turns out it was just an easier system for the staff to transport them to their offices rather than collecting them. With a flick of their wrists, they were gone. I only carry a small book bag on my shoulder, which was light with only a few notebooks and pencils.

I meet Naomi at the door, smiling politely at my classmates as they file ahead of me. Some return my gesture but many just look me up and down in looks that ranged from disgusted to mild interest.

Cade was up ahead of us, chatting to one of the boys, a small warlock with bright blue hair.

Since arriving at The Academy, I had come to learn that there were many different species in my class alone. Warlocks, nymphs, elves and dwarves to name a few. They were scattered among the shifters such as the big cats, the wolves and the very few dragons that seem to be here.

Naomi and I take a shortcut through the back hallways out into the courtyard. A small stone archway opens into a cobbled square centre of the castle. The bell tower was built into the wall straight ahead of us, where we are heading through now. The flowing of the relatively large fountain gushes lightly in my ears as we echo our way across the stone ground, a few strands of grass crushed back into the cracks that were growing from underneath our boots, along with a few weeds.

I gaze upwards as we pass underneath the tower. The bell was way above us, the only way up being a wooden spiral staircase climbing the walls, and it looks as though it was about to collapse on top of us. It was probably enchanted to be as strong as titanium, though. I doubted anyone climbs it, anyway. I sure wouldn't.

We turn left as we re-enter the castle, into the woman's changing rooms. We are some of the first there, only a few of the older girls already changed and giggling in the corner beside the showers. One of them was damp and miserable looking, so I could image what had happened there. I didn't doubt it, either.

They slip out of our view as we go to the specific changing stands. It certainly wasn't what I was used to, but they were far better than the ones I had read about in books. All I had to do was slip my clothes off behind a stall door- that you can lock, thank goodness- until I was in my underwear.

I place my feet in the specific spots and stretch my arms out on either side as the magic happens. Wisps of what feel like ribbons wrap themselves right around my body before loosening themselves again.

I now stand facing the full length mirror in front of me, and I am dressed in our uniform training gear that stretches to fit our movement, strains and bodies so it felt as though we are wearing nothing but the air itself. It's mostly black, bar the dark red stripe around the top of the leggings and the bottom of the light long-sleeved top with a high-cut V-neck. Flexible brown leather boots are laced to below my knees with flat soles for ease of running.

I pull my hair up into a ponytail before unlatching the wooden door and stepping our into the chatter-filled changing room.

Naomi's sitting against the wall on an oak bench, chattering to a violet haired girl with small horns protruding from her skull. I suspect she was a warlock or a nymph.

She looks up at me as I stand over them and her expression quickly changed from one of humour to contempt and disgust. Her features are fairly normal, so she's most likely a warlock.

Why does everyone find me do damn interesting or disgusting?

The girl straightens up slowly and throws one last glare at me before flicking her straight hair across her shoulder before sauntering off to towards a group of nymphs a few metres away.

I look after her for a few second s before slumping beside Naomi, arms crossed and lips pouting in a huff.

"That was Molly if you were wondering. Molly Delgado. I have to be nice to her because she is the daughter of one of the teachers," Naomi says, before I can ask.

"I'm sure," I reply, standing, pulling Naomi with me. It was becoming more and more crowded in here and I didn't want to be here before all of the gossiping began as though I weren't nearby at all.

Someone taps me on the shoulder, making me nearly jump out of my skin and into Naomi's.

It was Sam, of course, and I couldn't really tell whether she was energetic or the opposite about training. The most exercise I had seen her do so far was climbing up the stairs to the dorm and descending down them again.

"You excited, Ash? It's only your second training sesh!" Sam makes small jazz hands before slapping both of my cheeks at once.

"Ow! Sam, what the hell?" I shove her hand away and rub my poor, innocent cheeks. Samantha didn't notice, and skips on ahead with Naomi. I drag my feet behind them in reluctance as the many girls swarm around us, whispering.

We make for the gym entrance, but there are too many students blocking our way.

"Oi! Pan-heads! Move your arses, would you dears?" Naomi shoves one girl out of her way who was standing in front of the door. The room was now silent.

Another takes her place, and I growl in frustration, "The hell?"

"Peekaboo, who sees the Ashy-boo? Because I do!" A voice taunts behind me.

As I whirl round in frustration before I see a flash of violet hair and dark horns and before I know it I'm being knocked to the floor.

My head slams on the dark tile and my vision is fuzzy. I claw my way towards the blurry object above me.

I guess it's a shoe.

That's what I think as it smashes itself against my skull, and blood pours into my mouth. Everything goes black, but not before I hear the doors slam open and shouting male voices.

How.... many... times... can.... my.... body... endure... being.... unconscious?!

My mind slips into a light day event the thoughts spread like wildfire as well as the whisperings around me.

Water... coffin.... red.... blood.... blonde.... savior.... angel.... chaos....